Exploring Waterfront Potential and Urban Future: 'Waterside Symposium & Cruise Experience' Co-hosted with Minato Ward, Cruising the Canals and Tokyo Port from BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA Pier
Nomura Real Estate and Minato Ward co-hosted an event focusing on the utilization of waterfront spaces. The event featured a symposium on urban development and a cruise experience departing from the newly established BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA PIER.
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- 📰 Published: April 7, 2026 at 00:00
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Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo / President and Representative Director: Daisaku Matsuo, hereinafter referred to as 'the Company') co-hosted the 'Waterside Symposium & Cruise Experience' with Minato Ward on Friday, March 20th (national holiday), under the theme of exploring the potential for utilizing waterfront spaces.
At the symposium, Ai Seike, Mayor of Minato Ward, gave an opening remark regarding the ward's waterfront initiatives: 'Minato Ward is a city where people can enjoy canals and the sea while being in the heart of the metropolis. Together with our residents, we want to nurture waterfronts where everyone can walk, relax, and enjoy.' In addition, the keynote speech introduced domestic and international examples of waterfront utilization. In the second half, a talk session was held on the theme of the potential for waterfront utilization in Minato Ward, accompanied by a broad discussion on the 'waterfront-oriented urban development' that Minato Ward should aim for, while incorporating audience participation through questionnaires. Furthermore, a cruise experience departing from the 'BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA PIER', a boat boarding facility established at BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA, was held and attended by many people.
1. Symposium Program
(1) Keynote Speeches
- Mr. Ryo Sugawara, Assistant Professor, Department of Oceanic Architecture and Engineering, College of Science and Technology, Nihon University
'Domestic and International Initiatives for Waterfront Utilization and the Experiment to Create Liveliness in the Takahama Canal, Minato Ward'
- Ms. Iyoko Matsui, Secretary General, Suito Osaka Consortium
'About the Initiatives of Suito Osaka (Water City Osaka)'
- Mr. Jun Yamaki, Innovation Promotion Team, Commerce, Industry and Labor Bureau, Hiroshima Prefecture
'Community-rooted Waterfront Revitalization Activities in Hiroshima Prefecture Conducted Jointly by Local Residents and Businesses'
(2) Talk Session
- Theme 1: 'Potential of Waterfront Utilization in Minato Ward'
- Theme 2: 'Key Points for Waterfront Revitalization'
2. Comments from Participants (Excerpts from Questionnaire)
- I have high expectations for the future revitalization of the waterfront.
- I am happy that there will be more ways to enjoy the waterfront, such as walking and experiencing events.
- I realized that very earnest thought is being put into the utilization of the waterfront.
I look forward to future activities.
- I participated because I was attracted to the cruise, but the content of the lecture was very good.
- The cruise experience was refreshing because I was able to see my own town from the sea side, which I don't usually see.
- The BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA building is beautiful, showing the excellent taste of the designers.
3. Message from the Co-host, Minato Ward Representative, to the Participants
Thank you very much for participating in the 'Waterside Symposium & Cruise Experience'.
Through the lecture, we introduced examples and initiatives regarding the utilization of waterfront spaces (food and beverage, activities, water cruises, etc.), and we feel that the participants were able to find the potential of waterfront utilization appealing. In addition, you experienced a cruise around the canals and sea area, boarding from the newly developed pier 'BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA PIER' by Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. We hope you enjoyed the townscape and waterfront scenery of Minato Ward from a different perspective than usual.
Minato Ward is dotted with waterfront spaces such as the sea, canals, and rivers, and you can interact with the waterfront in various situations, such as walking paths, bridges, and bustling waterfront facilities. Taking this opportunity, we hope you will visit the waterfront during walks or breaks in your commute, relax on a bench, and casually enjoy the waterfront. We hope that more people will know about the charm of such waterfronts, and casually familiarize themselves with them in their daily lives...
At the symposium, Ai Seike, Mayor of Minato Ward, gave an opening remark regarding the ward's waterfront initiatives: 'Minato Ward is a city where people can enjoy canals and the sea while being in the heart of the metropolis. Together with our residents, we want to nurture waterfronts where everyone can walk, relax, and enjoy.' In addition, the keynote speech introduced domestic and international examples of waterfront utilization. In the second half, a talk session was held on the theme of the potential for waterfront utilization in Minato Ward, accompanied by a broad discussion on the 'waterfront-oriented urban development' that Minato Ward should aim for, while incorporating audience participation through questionnaires. Furthermore, a cruise experience departing from the 'BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA PIER', a boat boarding facility established at BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA, was held and attended by many people.
1. Symposium Program
(1) Keynote Speeches
- Mr. Ryo Sugawara, Assistant Professor, Department of Oceanic Architecture and Engineering, College of Science and Technology, Nihon University
'Domestic and International Initiatives for Waterfront Utilization and the Experiment to Create Liveliness in the Takahama Canal, Minato Ward'
- Ms. Iyoko Matsui, Secretary General, Suito Osaka Consortium
'About the Initiatives of Suito Osaka (Water City Osaka)'
- Mr. Jun Yamaki, Innovation Promotion Team, Commerce, Industry and Labor Bureau, Hiroshima Prefecture
'Community-rooted Waterfront Revitalization Activities in Hiroshima Prefecture Conducted Jointly by Local Residents and Businesses'
(2) Talk Session
- Theme 1: 'Potential of Waterfront Utilization in Minato Ward'
- Theme 2: 'Key Points for Waterfront Revitalization'
2. Comments from Participants (Excerpts from Questionnaire)
- I have high expectations for the future revitalization of the waterfront.
- I am happy that there will be more ways to enjoy the waterfront, such as walking and experiencing events.
- I realized that very earnest thought is being put into the utilization of the waterfront.
I look forward to future activities.
- I participated because I was attracted to the cruise, but the content of the lecture was very good.
- The cruise experience was refreshing because I was able to see my own town from the sea side, which I don't usually see.
- The BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA building is beautiful, showing the excellent taste of the designers.
3. Message from the Co-host, Minato Ward Representative, to the Participants
Thank you very much for participating in the 'Waterside Symposium & Cruise Experience'.
Through the lecture, we introduced examples and initiatives regarding the utilization of waterfront spaces (food and beverage, activities, water cruises, etc.), and we feel that the participants were able to find the potential of waterfront utilization appealing. In addition, you experienced a cruise around the canals and sea area, boarding from the newly developed pier 'BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA PIER' by Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. We hope you enjoyed the townscape and waterfront scenery of Minato Ward from a different perspective than usual.
Minato Ward is dotted with waterfront spaces such as the sea, canals, and rivers, and you can interact with the waterfront in various situations, such as walking paths, bridges, and bustling waterfront facilities. Taking this opportunity, we hope you will visit the waterfront during walks or breaks in your commute, relax on a bench, and casually enjoy the waterfront. We hope that more people will know about the charm of such waterfronts, and casually familiarize themselves with them in their daily lives...